Previously in our “A day in the life” series, we’ve featured members of staff you could talk to on Macmillan’s webchat and Support Line. This time, as part of LGBT+ History month, we’re taking you behind the scenes. Anna, alongside her full-time role at Macmillan, volunteers as Network Lead for the LGBTQ+* Network.
* LGBTQ+ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender/trans+, queer/questioning, and other marginalised identities. If you’d like to learn more about what being LGBTQ+ means, please take a look at our previous blog.
What is the LGBTQ+ Network at Macmillan, and why is it important?
The network is a safe space for LGBTQ+ staff working at Macmillan. It provides collective support and connection, aiming to improve members’ experience of working here. We have vastly ranging backgrounds, experiences, privileges and disadvantages, all impacted somewhat by our identities having been politicised and marginalised in some way.
This can affect our lives within and outside of work, and Macmillan cares that everyone feels welcome and supported. Many members of the LGBTQ+ community still face incredible discrimination in their daily lives – so much so that some people are unable to be their true selves in public without fear of violence and persecution. The world we live in wasn’t built to include us, and we have a lot of work to do in unlearning and dismantling these oppressive structures and harmful beliefs.
“This can affect our lives within and outside of work, and Macmillan cares that everyone feels welcome and supported.”
What does a normal day look like for you?
To be honest, there isn’t one – the Network Lead role is a voluntary, extra-curricular addition to my full-time role, so I do bits and pieces around everything else. Because of the diversity within the LGBTQ+ community, each task or project will look different too. Sometimes I am sharing resources for Transgender Awareness Week or LGBT+ History Month; sometimes I am attending a ‘Solidari-tea’ social; sometimes I am supporting individual colleagues confidentially to highlight issues within the organisation; sometimes I am contributing to Inclusion strategy meetings, or even organising a stall at a local Pride parade.
What are some key areas you worked on as a LGBTQ+ Network Lead last year?
I supported other network members in shifting our space from one platform to another, to create a fresh start in a new safe online space exclusively for LGBTQ+ Network members. This was to ensure that people could share more openly and comfortably, and then communicate with allies via other staff channels.
I led a campaign to introduce gender-neutral toilets in our offices. This was successfully implemented in my local building at the time, and will hopefully be carried forward throughout our branches if and when they re-open following the pandemic.
I took some steps to improve inclusivity for our transgender and trans+ colleagues. One ‘quick win’ I suggested was the inclusion of personal pronouns in our email signatures, our introductions, and our background and status on Teams, where all our meetings and huddles are hosted.
I also contributed, alongside other network members, to reviews of multiple staff policies and support packages, to improve the inclusivity and accessibility of the language we use.
What do you like most about your role?
I love getting to know colleagues whom I wouldn’t necessarily have met outside of the network, and knowing that I can be there to hear their needs and help make a difference to their working life. I’m also really excited about some upcoming opportunities, such as attending a virtual roundtable with the NHS England LGBT Health Team.
Last but not least, what’s your coffee break drink of choice?
Exactly two cups of Yorkshire Tea in the morning, followed by decaf herbal teas in the afternoon. Currently I’m loving some Thai Butterfly Pea Flower tea, and some Sencha Chocolate & Rose Hebden Tea - supporting local suppliers and my own heritage.
We’d like to thank Anna for writing about her role for Community News, and everything she does to support LGBTQ+ staff at Macmillan. If you identify as LGBTQ+ and are looking for support, please remember the LGBTIQ+ forum is here for you. We have also collated a list of further resources and information in our blog, “Supporting LGBT+ people affected by cancer.”
